Three New Marshall Monitors

Last week, I was fortunate enough to receive a visit from my good friends over at Marshall Electronics. They stopped by the studio to let me try out the brand new monitors they have been developing for greater ease of use with HDDSRL camera systems – The V-LCD56MD 5.6", V-LCD70MD 7", and V-LCD90MD 9" (pictured above). These monitors are going to be of great interest to HDDSLR users because of the combination of features they offer – some new and some we have seen on other Marshall products – but never before in one package. Not to mention these are the world’s first camera-top monitors with modular inputs and outputs.

On the surface, I like the new rounded design – they feel solid in the hand and that should translate well to their reliability on set. A variety of inputs and outputs that have been incorporated into the back of the monitor which make outputting an image from your camera to the monitor much more direct and also allows for you to pass the image through to additional external viewing devices without the use of a third party interface (such as the Blackmagic Convertor). There are two HDMI inputs that include the passthrough feature so that you can feed your signal straight from the camera into the monitor and then back out to another monitor via an HDMI module. This allows you to have an on camera monitor as well as an off camera monitor using the same signal and bypassing the use of the convertor. These new monitors also have an MD slot that can be changed out for a variety of different inputs and outputs, such as SDI, HDMI, Fiber Optic, and others to be announced. The monitors that I got the chance to check out came with an SDI input/output – which is great, as it allows you to out put the signal out to a traditional on set VTR, which also uses SDI. Basically, these new monitors compensate for the limitations that come along with the non-standard HDMI output that HDDSLRs offer and moreover, with the incorporation of the MD slot, give you the ability to customize your outputs depending on your needs.

Marshall has also incorporated a 12v LEMO connector for power input, which makes these monitors much easier to use with a powered cage camera support system. The LEMO also opens the door for easier integration with larger HD video cameras such as the RED and ALEXA and many support systems from Steadicams to Technocranes/Russian Arms etc.

The monitor sizes are also ideal. While the 5.6" and 7" are fantastic for use as on onboard monitors for operator/focus assistant use, I am particuarly drawn to the 9" monitor, which is the perfect size for use as a director’s monitor off camera – especially handheld. The incorporation of a wireless transmitter could make this monitor even more useful, as it would allow the director (or even DP) to walk around set with the monitor in hand and be able to see what the camera sees at all times. As a director it is extremely convenient to not be tied to a chair in the video village and have the ability to move around your set while still having your eye on exactly what the camera is seeing. The color range on this monitor is also quite impressive.

In addition to these great new hardware features, the new monitors also have all of the great Marshall in-monitor features that I have grown accustom to on their older models, such as False Color (I have come to call this feature "Predator vision" though someone else may very well have coded that one) – which gives you a simple color-coded representation of your exposure levels – and DSLR ratio adjustment – which fits the HDMI signal to fill the monitor screen.

All in all I am extremely excited to start incorporating these new monitors into my production kit and camera setups. Marshall will be debuting these monitors at NAB. So if you are able to be there, swing by their booth and check them out!For a detailed list of features and picture of the 5.6" and 7" – click MORE.

Any idea when these will be releasing and/or when you will include them in your kits? I’m thinking of purchasing your Indie Filmmaker Kit, but I want it with one of these new Marshall Monitors. I’d love to use that HDMI loop through so I have a video assist when I’m directing, and my cinematographer can have a monitor on his rig.

@Vincent Laforet – Thanks for the response. I just gave marshall a quick call the guy said the V-LCD56MD hasn’t been released yet? He seemed a little uncertain which was confusing. I wouldn’t mind getting my hands on one of these modular monitors with the higher resolution though.

@Vincent Laforet, I sent an email to Marshall as well and I did hear back that these modular, higher resolution monitors will appear on the website around Feb, to begin selling around March. I think I’ll pick one up!